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Till We Meet Again | A Bette-Tina Beginning Chapter 6

One week later
Location: KAMAKAZI FIRM

“What do you mean he is not going to back down?” Eric stormed past his assistant, Matt to settle into his posh desk chair.

“Yes, he said he will not leave till he gets us to organize this event. And…” Matt broke off, nervously regarding his boss, “and he is threatening to sue us…” he continued in a small voice.

Eric sprung up, slamming his fists into the desk. “What do you mean, sue us? Who the HELL does he think he is?!” he said, walking angrily past Matt, slamming the sliding doors behind him, to greet his annoying ‘client.’

“Listen up, I have already told you that my firm is not organizing this event…”

Jack, his client swung around in the chair. Calm blue eyes met agitated blue ones. Eric peered defiantly at the older man, challenging him to a battle.

“Oh come on son. You can do this much for me. All I need is a regular Christmas gathering with a 60s theme, a mask-dance party, some friends and 300 or so girls. Think how happy your mother would be,” the older man coaxed Eric.

“Yes, I am sure my mother would be really happy in the heavens seeing her husband romancing 300 girls and acting out of his age. Seriously Dad, if you don’t have some respect for yourself, at least have some for me. How embarrassing!” Eric hung his head in mock shame.

“Where is the shame in living it up a little? Oh did you hear about this latest libido-enhancing product on the market…”

“DAD!” Eric interjected blushing furiously, “I really don’t need to hear or even picture this! Not from my own father! And anyway, what would you be doing with 300 girls? Wait…wait…don’t answer that!”

Jack Lively raised his eyebrows in jest. For a man in his 60s, he looked quite good. Only his blond-dyed hair, and the lines on the corners of his eyes and mouth when he smiled would betray his true age. “C’mon son, if you do this for me, my red Ferrarri is all yours!”

“Listen here. If you think you can bribe me by offering me your car…” Eric broke off waiting for the drum roll… “You are absolutely right! I love that car!” Father and son exchanged high-fives.

“So what do you want the girls to wear?”

“Nothing.”
“Done.”

Meanwhile…
Location: BETTE’S STUDIO Room, Pieszecki-Porter Residence

Brushes jabbed the canvas, long strokes followed by short stabbing ones, blending together in a mosaic of expression capturing the pain of the artist. In the dim light and silence of the small studio, with paint tubes and brushes littering the place, Bette Porter intensely concentrated on her painting with a stroke here and stroke there. Hours later, spent and tired, she stepped back…the crouching, defeated form of a forlorn figure standing off to the side in the dark as two others, joint together in matrimony, walking off into the sunset.

She walked over to an older stack of paintings that she had not seen in years, cleared the dust and laid them on the floor, studying them closely.

In each of them, Bette saw a beautiful bride dressed in an elegant wedding gown with a radiant smile to match the blonde hair glowing in the sun. Some pieces had her in an intense concentration, others had her happy and smiling, and yet some more gave her a more alluring and tempting look.

Bette paused at the last piece. It was a painting of two figures, blurred beyond recognition, parting ways at a bench in a park. Their backs were turned to each other, walking in two different directions, but their heads were sideways, hinting a glance towards each other, a pressing need to look back if only for one last time.

Next, Bette lifted the 5 gallons of flat black acrylic paint and tossed it at the new canvas, trying to wipe out the past, erase her memories, end her torment. She wanted to pour it over all the paintings of Tina that she had kept hidden from the eyes of everyone else for so long, to destroy her concern and care for this stranger, to pretend that Tina’s pain and apparent emptiness had not affected her at all.

It was futile. She curled up on the floor and sobbed. Pain wrecked her body, guilt consumed her and it flowed through her eyes. She cried for her lost life, she cried for what could have been, she cried for her failing relationship with Alice, but most of all she cried for Tina.

“I am sorry…I am so sorry…”

Location: DIVA HEADQUARTERS, New York

“Alice here.”

“I told you it is nearly impossible to avoid me.”

“Mr. Lively? How on earth…?” Alice stammered… “Since when is your name Bette Porter?”

“Since I got someone to pretend to be Bette to talk to your receptionist and hand me the phone when I get through to you. Smart, no?”

“Maybe, but nothing new here. I would expect a more innovative ploy from the head of a PR firm. Where are the skills that you tout Mr. Lively?” Alice quipped.

She was busy and swamped with work but Eric was no bother. She had been tense and ready for another battle when her receptionist had announced Bette was on the phone. And now relief poured through her as she engaged Eric in useless and childish banter.

“Speaking of skills…My firm is organizing a X-mas party for the 22ND, sixties theme, with 300 or so models showing themselves off on the runaway. I would be honored if you could grace us with your presence. And even more for a favorable review,” he added lightly.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Alice was about to turn him down again, but he had put her in a good mood and what was the harm in a little fun?

“Could I bring a guest or two?”

“You can bring whoever you want…besides your partner…No wait, she is hot. Alright, bring her, but give her some sedative.”

“Mr. Lively!” Alice admonished him lightly. She heard Eric chuckling and soon they were both laughing.

“Alright Mr. Lively. I cannot promise you anything, but I will check with my assistant to see if I am free for that date and try to attend if there are no scheduling conflicts.”

Eric was pleased that his deceptive efforts had not incited a wrath from the diva herself.

“Fair enough Ms. Pieszecki. If you do decide to attend, I could personally meet with you with a press packet to clear up details.”

“Call me Alice. And that might not be necessary but I will let you know.” Alice was not sure what to think about Eric’s efforts to gain her attention.

“Ok, sure thing. As long as you call me Eric!” he quipped lightly.

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

That night
LIVELY-KENNARD RESIDENCE

Eric changed her bandages as Tina rest comfortably against the sofa, pretending to relax. But beneath those closed eyelids, a fury of images erupted. She couldn’t get the onslaught of Bette Porter out of her head. The brunette had sparked her annoyance to new heights—never had any single person irritated her to this point. And yet, Bette had also seemed to reach deep within her soul—to understand her, to comfort her and share her pain. And this scared Tina. It unsettled her.

But more than that, the idea of a stranger being able to read her thoughts, understand her deepest fears and desires, and judge her accordingly got her riled up. It was simply unacceptable for Bette to pretend to know Tina, assume things about her life and pass judgment.

Tina shook her head. But is that not what Bette had done almost four years ago? And she had listened, WILLINGLY! No, not again. She definitely would not let Bette get away with thinking that she had all the answers. She would not take advice from Bette Porter on life and relationships given the little insight she had gotten earlier on exactly how Bette Porter behaved in her environment and around her loved ones. No, Tina resolved then and there to put Bette Porter in her place.

Who was Bette Porter anyway? Tina had certainly never seen any of her art-work, and she had certainly looked at galleries and local art shows here and there without consciously admitting that she was looking for Bette’s name. No, Porter was a failure in life, a complete loser who would rather blame other people for her lack of success. She could not believe that Bette harbored resentment towards her for something she had not done.

Oblivious to Tina’s presence of mind, Eric finished changing her bandages. “There you go Tina. In a few days, your ankle should be fine. Then you can get back to your regular exercise. Cleaning, dusting, moping, sweeping…”

“SHUTUP!” Tina snapped at Eric, who seemed to withdraw into a shell like a frightened animal.

Oh, shit, why am I snapping at Eric, she thought. He has not done anything wrong.

“I am sorry, Eric. It’s not you. It’s just…what’s her name, Bette. Did you see the way she spoke to her partner today right in front of us? How rude and insensitive is that?!”

Tina drew the internal struggle out, seeking an opinion for all the confused thoughts about Bette dancing around in her head.

‘Oh my god, I am driving myself crazy thinking about Bette. Gosh, how does she do this to me. ARGH! Ok, Tina, think happy thoughts and try to relax…’

Eric smiled ruefully. He took in his wife—she looked absolutely stunning and alluring in only her silky black night robe. How he wanted her tonight. No, scratch that – every night. But obviously Tina did not share the same enthusiasm about sex.

“Tina…not every spouse is as loving and understanding as me,” he began jokingly, kissing her toes and massaging her feet. Laying her feet gently on the couch, next, he moved up slowly towards her center, laying kisses on her long slender legs, nipping her robe, growing more serious. “Not everyone has someone to love them all night long. God Tina, you are so hot, so unbelievably sexy,” he mumbled against her, growing more aroused.

Not hearing her usual protest, Eric untied her robe, placing small kisses on her bare stomach up to her firm, luscious breasts. “I just want to make love to you all night long, honey. Forget about everyone and everything else and get lost in our little world,” Eric nuzzled her breasts, his voice husky with passion and desire for his woman.

Reaching up to caress her right breast with his left hand, he allowed his other hand to roam shamelessly up and down her inner thighs, all the while murmuring sweet words of endearment for Tina. He reached down to unzip his jeans, allowing his bulge to spring out and whimpered into Tina’s neck, “I miss you Tina. I want you so much.”

Eric moved up to capture Tina’s lips only to see her mouth slightly open, her eyes closed shut, and her face peaceful. She had fallen asleep. Frustrated, Eric groaned into the couch….

“Tina!”

————————————————————————————————————-

“What’s up Baby sis?” Kit stepped out into the backyard and addressed her sister who was sprawled out on the lounge chair as usual, grading homework.

Bette just grunted as she circled another ‘D’ with a red marker, on the student paper. She turned towards Kit, “What are you doing here in New York?”

Kit, by now used to her sister being cold and unwelcoming, was not unhinged. “Girl, it is Christmas. Now I know you da grinch, but I am here to see my favorite sister and sister-in-law, and celebrate. Ain’t anything wrong with that now?”

Bette got up and hugged Kit. She loved and respected her sister no matter how estranged they were with Kit in Los Angeles and Bette in New York. But Kit always made an effort to reach out to her when she could. She was the only family that Bette had, besides Alice.

“I am not the Grinch, I can give you some recycled fruit cake. And I am hot!” she finished with a grin.

“Yeah, you keeping telling yourself that sista,” she stepped back from the hug and studied Bette up and down, “Ok, you do look mighty fine for 40!” Bette cast her an annoyed look daring her to make another comment about her age.

“What’s this I hear about my baby girl kidnapping babies at the subway?” Kit had heard from Alice and was thoroughly amused by the story. She was not going to let it go without ruffling Bette’s feathers

“Why don’t you just try the adoption center instead?” Kit teased.

“Kit!” Bette groaned. “Not you too. It was an honest and simple mistake. And I hate kids!”

“I know … I know… But Alice and you have been together for so long. Don’t you want to have children, ya know, expand the family?”

“I don’t know Kit. We are not in any place to do so,” Bette said, her eyes downcast. “She works long hours, comes home too tired to do anything but have dinner and fall asleep. We hardly talk without fighting and…the sex is non-existent.”

“And what are you doing about it besides sitting here and whining to me?” Kit was fond of Alice even though she did not know how Alice could be fond of Bette.

“Hey you asked!” Bette shouted angrily. “Alright, I admit, we need help. I just don’t know what to do, or how to approach her and if we have anything that we can salvage,” Bette stated more calmly.

“I tell you what, why don’t you accompany Alice to one of her socialite parties or do something that SHE wants for a change. And do not complain throughout the night about how everyone else is dumb or needs to get a new fragrance or anything else. Ya hear me now?”

Bette puffed out her cheeks… “Fine…next time she invites me out for a boring night of high-class society dance and dinner, I will go. But she also needs to make compromises.”

“You leave that up to me baby sis. Let me work the magic of Kit Porter.”